Gamma imaging Flashcards
what is a stable nuclei?
Here they would contain equal number of protons and neutrons.
P = N
what is alpha particle?
This is helium where there is a very stable combination of 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
The heavier nuclei contain a greater proportion of ……..
neutrons.
define isotopes:
These are nuclides that have the SAME no of protons (atomic no), position in the periodic table, and chemical and metabolic properties but different number of neutrons, mass no and density and other physical properties.
Name the isotopes of carbon
All carbon atoms contain 6 protons.
99% of stable nuclei are C12- 6 N
1% are C13- 7N
C11- 5 N- neutron defficient
C14- 8N- Neutron excess- the last two are unstable and radioactive.
Name naturally occuring radionuclides;
uranium radium radon C14 and K40 these contribute to our background radiation exposure
what process happens in a nuclear reactor?
Give example;
when an additional neutron is forced into a stable nucleus –> Neutron excess
Mo98 + N = Mo99
what happens to atomic no and mass no in neutron excess
the atomic number is unchnaged, but the mass number has increased by 1
Z = p = e A = p +n
T/F?
the radionuclides produced in a nuclear reactor can be separated from the original stable nuclides.
False
the radionuclides produced in a nuclear reactor can NOT be separated from the original stable nuclides.
This is because they have the same atomic no and hence same chemical properties.
They CANNOT be made carrier free.
T/F?
Radionuclides produced in a reactor can be made carrier free.
False
Radionuclides produced in a reactor CANNOT be made carrier free.
because they have the same atomic no and hence same chemical properties. they cannot be made separate.
what happens in neutron deficient nuclide?
A proton is forced into a stable nuclide forcing out a neutron.- neutron deficient unstable nuclide.
what process happens in a cyclotron?
give example;
neutron deficient nuclide are produced in a cyclotron-
Force a p, knock out a n = neutron deficient
O18 + p = F18 + n
what happens to atomic no and mass no in neutron deficient cyclotron?
[A = p+n, Z=p=e]
Mass number is the same.
The atomic number has increased by 1
radionuclides produced in a cyclotron can be obtained carrier free. Why?
Because the have different atomic no and hence different chemical properties
They are also short lived. so they should be used relatively close to the cyclotron
please read the statement.
radioactive fission products may be extracted from the spent fuel rods of nuclear reactor
U238 = Mo99 + other fission by product.
why would Mo be separated and prepared in a very pure form?
because its different chemically from the other products.
what is produced in a generator?
daughter products are obtained from generators.
they contain longer lived radioactive parent.
Tc99m from Mo99 generator - Mo/Tc
positron emitter gallium 68 from germanium generator. Ge/Ga generator
what happens in B- decay?
The radionuclide with n excess may lose energy and become stable by a n –> p + e.
The e is then ejected with high energy and is referred to as a -ve beta particle.
what happens to atomic and mass no in beta- decay?
A = p+n Z = p= e
Mass number is the same
The atomic number +1
what happens to excess energy in beta- decay?
usually it loses this immediately with the emission of one or more gamma photons.- leaving daughter nuclei with minimum energy in the ground state.
list the isomeric transition for Mo99
Mo99………B-, gamma, 67h…..>Tc99m…..gamma,6h….> Tc99………..B-, gamma……> stable 99Ru (Ruthenium)
what is the difference between Tc99 and Tc99m?
they are isomers, they have different energy state and half lives but otherwise indistinguishable as regards to mass number, atomic no, and other properties.
what sort of radiation Mo99and Tc99m emit?
Mo99 = emits both gamma and beta
Tc99m -emits gamma rays only
state the isomeric transition of rubidium-81
Rb81….B+, gamma, 4.7h….>Kr81m…..gamma,13s…>Kr81…..gamma…>stable Br81
what is a positron?
this is a positive beta particle.
what happens in Beta + decay?
radionuclide with neutron deficit may lose energy and become stable by a proton within the nucleus changing into n and e+. The latter is ejected from the nucleus with high energy and is referred as positron/ +ve beta particle.
what happens to mass and charge in B+ decay?
they are conserved.
A= p+n
Z=p=e
Z -1
A the same
what happens in K electron capture?
the nucleus may increase its no of n by capturing an extranuclear e from the nearest k-shell.
p+e = n
The daughter nuclei will emit K characteristic xrays when an e from an outer shell fills the hole created in the k shell.
what would happen when an e from an outer shell fills the hole created in the k shell in K electron capture process?
The daughter nuclei will emit K characteristic xrays when an e from an outer shell fills the hole created in the k shell.
If its left in the excited state , it will produce gamma rays.
Give example of k electron capture:
How much x-rays and gamma rays do they produce?
I123 decays wholly by electron capture and emits:
160 KeV gamma and 28 KeV X rays but NO positive beta particles.
T/F?
Gamma rays have identical properties to x rays
True
re I131, how much gamma rays do they produce?
360 KeV
what does internal conversion mean?
the gamma rays emitted by some nuclei do not leave the atom but are photoelectrically absorbed within its k-shell. as a result they emit both photoelectrons and characteristic x rays, usu of fairly low energy.
why is I123 more useful than I125?
because of its higher energy photon emission and shorter half life- 13h
what is Emax with regards to beta rays?
beta rays are emitted with a continuous spectrum of energies up to a max Emax, which is characteristic of that radionuclide
Their average energy is Emax/3
T/F?
The range of beta particles is proportional to density of the material,
false
It is inversly proportional.
The most energetic beta rays have a range of a few mm in tissue.
what is positron emitters?
when a B+ becomes to its end of range it combines with a nearby e-. The opposite charges cancel each other out and their masses combine and are converted to energy.
the mass of each e = 511 kev. when the two e annihilate each other the energy is emitted as two photons of annihilation radiation travelling in opposite direction
give one example of positron emitters
PET imaging
T/F?
Radioactive disintegration is a stochastic process ie statistical law of chance
true
how do we measure the radioactivity quantity?
by transformation rate, ie the number that disintegrates per second, also known as decay rate.
T/F?
radioactivity is measured by the ‘population’, the mass and number of radioactive atoms.
False
it is measured by decay rate or transformation rate.
what is the SI unit of radioactivity?
Becquerel Bq = 1 disintegration per sec
what is the natural radioactive content of human body?
2 kBq- 2000Bq
what is 1MBq?
1MBq = 1,000,000 Bq
1GBq = 1,000,000,000 Bq
Curie old unit- 1mCi = 37 MBq
what is the relationship between count rate and activity and no or mass of radioactive atoms in the sample.
there is a proportionality:
count rate § activity § no or mass of radioactive atoms in the sample.
define count rate:
This is the number of counts per seconds- cps
what is the exponential law;
the basic law of radioactive decay states that the activity of a a radioactive sample decreases by equal fractions (%) in equal intervals of time.
define half life;
the half life of a radionuclide is the time taken for its activity to decay to half its original value.
eg 10 half lives reduce the activity by a factor of 2*(10)
T/F?
The half life is affected by heat.
False
the half life is unaffected by any agency such as heat, pressure, electricity and chemical reactions.
T/F?
The half life is affected by chemical reactions.
false
T/F?
The radioactivity never falls to 0
True
Exponential decay.
what is a radiopharmaceutical?
this is a pharmaceutical that has been labelled with a radionuclide.
what is the difference bwn biological and physical half life?
If the pharmaceutical is administered alone, it is usually eliminated from thetissues by usual metabolic process of turn over and excretion- biological half life
if the radiopharmaceutical is stored in a bottle, its activity decays with its physical half life.
what is the effective half life?
this is shorter than either biological or physical halflives.
1/teff= 1/tbiol + 1/tphys
what does the effective half life depend on?
it depends on the radiopharmaceutical used and the organ involved and can vary from person to person, depending on their disease state.
T/F?
All nuclides are stable..
False
Hydrogen consists of 1 proton.
what are the desirable properties of a radionuclide for imaging?
- physical half life of few hrs
- decay to a stable daughter or at least one with a very long half life
- emission of gamma rays with no alpha or beta particles nor very low energy photons
- decay by isomeric transition or e capture is preferred
- emission of gamma rays of energy 50-300kev and ideally about 150kev- high enough to exit the patient but low enough to b collimated and easily detected.
- monoenergetic beam so that scatter can be eliminated with PHA
- easily and firmly attached to the pharmaceutical at room temp but has no effect on its metabolism
- readily available
- a high specific activity
what type of decay is preferable in radiox?
decay by isomeric transition or electron capture is preferable
what is the half life of Tc 99?
200,000 years
T/F?
the effective half life should be similar to duration of examination to reduce the dose to patient.
True
list some other properties of radiopharmeceutical;
low toxicity
form a stable product both in vitro and in vivo
be readily available and inexpensive per patient dose
localise largely and quickly in target
how could you reduce the decay during transport and storage for a short lived radionuclide?
if it could be supplied with its longer lived parent in a generator.
re Tc99m
its gamma energy
half life?
supplied from?
Its gamma energy of 140 kev
easily collimated and absorbed in thin crystal
half life of 6 hrs
pure gamma emission- large activity can be administered-reducing noise in the image
how is Tc99 produced?
supplied from a generator shielded with lead. this contains an exchange column of alumina beads on which they have been absorbed a compound of the parent Mo99- which can be produced in a reactor and and has a 67hr half life
what is transient =m?
when the generator is delivered, the activity of daughter Tc99m has built to its max, = to its parent Mo99.
The daughter is decaying as quickly as it is being formed by the decay of its parent. It is said to be in transient equilibrium with the parent.
The daughter and parent decay together with the half life parent 67 hrs
Thereafter the eluant decay with its own half life of 6hrs.
sodium pertechnetate 99m is used for imaging the tissue. Why?
what are the uses?
sodium pertechnetate 99m is used for imaging the tissue base on the account of similarity to iodide and chloride.
It is used in gastric mucosa (localisation of Meckel’s diverticulum), thyroid, and salivary gland.testicular imaging and gastric emptying studies